Johannesburg’s communal leaders, Jewish and non-Jewish, paid tribute last night to Dr. Moses Cyrus Weiler, founder and leader of Reform Jewry in South Africa, who is retiring as Chief Minister of the United Jewish Progressive Congregation, to settle in Israel.
The occasion was a reception at the Johannesburg City Hall climaxing a series of farewells to Dr. Weiler by the many organizations he had served in his nearly 25 years here. Speakers included Dr. Ambrose Reeves, the Bishop of Johannesburg; Ian Maltz. Deputy Mayor of the city, representatives of local civic groups and the heads of the major South African Jewish organizations. Earlier, Mayor Glynn Morris of Johannesburg had tendered a civic reception to Dr. Weilerin recognition of his public activities.
In response to the tributes voiced at the affair, Dr. Weiler said that the decision to give up his ministry and return to Israel had not been an easy one. He felt, however, he said, that he had fulfilled the mission which had brought him to South Africa and he wished to follow the example of his father and grandfather. The former, he said, at the height of his communal and business success in Europe, had given it up to settle in what was then Palestine. His grandfather had settled in Palestine at the age of 81.
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